Power factor sensitive relay



J1me 1951 R. F. DAVIS 2,558,609

POWER FACTOR SENS ITIVE RELAY Original Filed Jan. 8, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1' Fqrl June 26, 1951 R. F. DAVIS 2,558,609

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have been found to Patented June 2 6,1 95l 2,558,609 POWER FACTOR SENSITIVE RELAY Ronald F. Davis, Sterling, Ill., assignor to Northwestern Steel and Wire Company, Sterling, 111., a corporation of Illinois Original application January 8, 1945, Serial No. 571,900. Divided and this application March 20, 1947, Serial No. 736,093

4 Claims. 1 This invention relates to a power factor meter or relay, and particularly to a power factor relay for effecting a control action in response to the departure of the power factor in a three-phase power circuit from a predetermined value.

This application constitutes a division of my pending application, Serial No. 571,900, filed January 8, 1945, now Patent No. 2,419,988.

In many industrial applications, and particularly in control circuits for electric arc furnaces, there arises the need for a meter or relay which will indicate the departure of the power factor of a polyphase power circuit from a predetermined value, and which will initiate a control action tending to restore the power factor of such circuit to the predetermined value.

In my above-referred to parent application, there is disclosed a method and apparatus for controlling the operation of three-phase electric arc furnaces in response to the departures of the over-all power factor of the supply circuit from a predetermined value, such predetermined power factor value being selected so as to maintain the furnace at an optimum operating condition so far as power input to the arc and overall efficiency is concerned. In such control circuits, it is essential that a power factor relay be provided which will initiate a control action immediately upon the departure of the overall power factor of the particular electric furnace from the pre determined value. Existing power factor relays be completely unsatisfactory for such application for the reason that known power factor relays were either limited to operation in single-phase circuits or, if adaptable to three phase circuits, were not accurately operable under the unbalanced line current conditions which are always encountered in electric furnace operations.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved-power factor meter or relay' for indicating the departure of the power factor in a power circuit from a predetermined value. A further object of. this invention is to provide an improved power factor relay for indicating the departure of the power factor in a three-phase power circuit from a predetermined value and for effecting-a control action in response to such departure.

A particular object of this invention is to provide a power factor relay which may be conveniently assembled by suitable electrical and mechanical interconnections of conventional watt meter type meter elements.

The specific nature of the invention, as well as other objects and advantages thereof will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the annexed sheets of drawings which, by way of preferred example only, illustrate one specific embodiment of the invention.

On the drawings:

Fig. l is a schematic view, for mathematical analysis purposes, of a conventional connection of a watt meter type meter elements in a threephase power circuit for power measuring purposes;

Figure 2 is a vector diagram of currents and voltages in the circuit of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a schematic circuit diagram of the electrical elements of a power factor meter embodying this invention as applied to a three-phase power circuit;

Figure 4 is a schematic circuit diagram showing a modified power factor meter as applied to a three-phase power circuit, and embodying principles of the present invention; and

Figure 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating the physical relationship of the various windings of the power factor meter of Figure 3 with respect to the rotary disk elementsof the meter.

As shown on the drawings:

The power factor meter embodying this invention may be conveniently constructed by suitable electrical and mechanical connections of conventional meters of the watt meter type. Those skilled in the art will recognize that most common forms of watt meters embody a pair of coils, which are respectively energized by the current and voltage of the circuit or phase in which the power measurement is to be made, and a movable indicating or output member, generally rotatable, which is moved by the magnetic fluxes produced by the coils, in such a manner that the movement of the output member is proportional to the power flowing in such circuit, which is generally equal to the product of the effective values of line voltage times the line current, times the cosine of the phase angle existing between the line current and line voltage. Or, as commonly expressed,

P (Power in watts) =EL cos 0 (1) The foregoing relationships are found in the well known induction type, watt hour meter. It

of course, is measurable in watts. Such induction type watt hour meters embody a voltage responsive coil, a current responsive coil and a disk which is so positioned as to have eddy currents generated therein by the magnetic fields produced by the voltage and current responsive coils. It is well known that the instantaneous torque acting upon the rotary disk of a simple watt hour meter is proportional to the product of the instantaneous voltage across the power circuit or phase by the instantaneous current flowinginsuch power circuit or'phase. H

Referring to Figure 1 there is schematically illustrated a well known circuit arrangement for obtaining an indication of eithnr,the...watts or watt hours of a three-phase. deltaeconnected circuit by utilization of only two watt meter elements. The three line conductors are indicated respectively at L0, L1 and L2. The delta-connected load impedances are indicated by Z1, zzand Z The load currents and voltages are indicated respectively by i i2, and i0, and e1, e2 and en. The line currents areindicated by in, i1 and i The current coils S1 and S; of the two watt meter elements are respectively effectively connected in series in lines L1 and L2. The' voltage elements V1 and V2 of the two watt meter elements 'are connected a'cross lines Lo and L1, and Lo and L2 respectively, The. watt meters are'indicated, as

f the induction e151; type having disks p and D2 respectively associated with the two sets of coils and mechanically connected by a common shaft s.

It follows that when the two 'watt meter ele- :ments are connected with a three phase delta load'as in Figurel, I

Instantaneous power at the load and the instantaneoustorque t op'eratin'g on the meter shaft S is proportional tq'the instantaneous power p effective upon the'watt meters and is expressed by .As the instantaneous torque istherefore pro- -portional to theinstantaneous power in the three phase load circuit, theaverage.

current relationshipin. Figure 1 are there 'illustrated in vector form for balanced conditions.'-*65 Thus, Ilm, Igm-and .Ipmpare the maximum values of currents in loadimpedances Z1,' Z2, and Z0 of Figure l.

For the general caseof any'power factoreiris'ting A in the power circuit we shall assumethat -I1'm7 is lagging 0 behind the voltageEim. The vector difierence between Tim and m is Ln "which; for a balanced-loadflags behind mane (0+30) inent Di is then propbmafiai to r i a behind Elm. The torque on wattlfiet'efdi'sk 'e'le- P1=EI cos (6-30") and by a similar process of reasoning, it can be shown that the average torque on the other disk D2 of the watt meter element is proportional to I 22:12! cos 040 n (9) where E is the effective voltage between the three phase lines and I is the eifective value of curwhen the respec ve torques on disks D1 and D2 are-equal a d ppos te- Thus far, the metering arrangements described have been entirely conventional.

Now in accordance with this invention, two more watt meter elements are connected in the three phase load circuit in the manner illustrated in Figure 3. In this figure, the coils EA and EA are the 'voltage re'spon'sive coils of the two con ventionally connected watt'met'er elements having rotary disks D1 and Dz (Figure 5). Likewisecoils IA and'IA"-cons'titute tlie currentresponsive coils of the two watt meter elements having rotary disks D and D2. In a'dditio'n, twofadditional watt meterelementsareprovided'having rotary disks D3 and D4, voltage responsive coils ER andE R and current responsive coils IR "and IR, 'A's shown'in Figure '5,"all of the disks are connected to a common-shaft S. V

A conventionalpotentialtransformer "36 is provided having the three phase, open-delta primary thereof conne'cted'ac'r'oss the lines'Lo, L1,an'd L2 of the three phase power'circuit and the secondar'y thereof connected by'leads3'l, 38 and 39 to voltage responsive coils EA and EA. Also, a pha'seshifting auto transformer 40 is provided which is 'connec'ted in open delta "across the secondary of potential transformer 36. Voltage responsive coils ER and ER are respectively connected across phase shifting transformer '40 in 'such manner that the voltage applied to coil'ER 'isequal. in magnitude to that applied acrosscoil EA but shifted'90" inphase with respect thereto. Likewise, the voltage a'pplied tocoil ER, is equal inmagnitude to that applied to coil EA but is shifted f 'in' ph'asejwith respect thereto.

Current trans'formers 34 "and 35'are respective- 1y provided oninainHinesLrandILa Transformer 34 supplies .current;responsive 'co'ils'IA and IR in series, butthese coils'are reversely connected with respect to each "other so that "the metering fluxes "respectively "produced byfsuch coils are exactlyl'80"oiit or"phase, as indicated by ,the arrows on the drawings. Current transformer 35:is similarly 'connected to' coils IA" and ,IR' and thepolarity 'of coil IR "is exactly'reversed from that =of'coil'IA'. The transformer ratios are such that, under*balancedconditions,

like currents'will'fiow in each ofthese coils. All

complementary sine expressions, the following relationships obtain:

T=KEI COS (-45") (12) where K is a constant representing the proportionality of torque to power. This relationship is the result, primarily, of the 90 shift in phase of voltage coils ER and ER;

From Equation 12 representing the net torque onthe disks for balanced load conditions, it is evident that the torque will vary sinusoidally with the power factor angle. In the described arrangement, when 0 equals 45, or in other Words, when a power factor of 70.7% occurs in the main power circuit, the sum of the torques exerted on disk elements D1 and D2 will be equal and opposite to the torques exerted on disk elements D3 and D4. Hence, at this one Y value of power factor, no movement of the disk shaft S will occur.

This relationship is employed in accordance with this invention to indicate the occurrence of a predetermined power factor in the main power circuits and to produce a control" eifect in response to departures of the power factor from such predetermined value. Such indication may be conveniently produced by the securing of a contact carrying arm 43 to the common shaft S which is rotatable between two limiting positions of engagement respectively with fixed contacts ll and 42. At power factor values equivalent to values of the angle 0 greater than 45, the resultant torque on the common shaft S will move the contact carrying arm 43 into engagement with fixed contact 42. At power factor values corresponding to values of the angle 0 less than 45, the resultant torque on common shaft S will move the contact carrying arm 43 into engagement with fixed contact 4|. At the one value of 0 equals 45, no resultant torque will be exerted upon the shaft S and the contact carrying arm 43 will tend to position itself between flxed contacts 4| and 42, with a suitable biasing spring (not shown) being attached to the shaft S for this purpose.

The selective engagement of the contact carrying arms 43 with fixed contacts 4| and 42 may be utilized in a variety of ways that will be immediately apparent to those skilled in the art to effect a control action in response to departure of the power factor in the power circuits from the predetermined value of 70.7%. For a specific example of such utilization, reference should be had to my above referred to parent application.

In order to permit a selective variation of the predetermined power factor about which the power factor meter embodying the invention will operate, the modified circuit shown in Figure 4 may be employed. This modification differs from that of Figure 3 only in that variable transformers, for example, of the variable tap ratio type, are connected in the supply lines for the current responsive coils IA, IA, IR and IR. Such transformers are indicated respectively by the numerals 44, 45, 46 and 41. By varying the tap ratio transformers, the relative energization of the current responsive coils of each of the four watt meter elements may be selectively varied.

Hence, the effective torque exerted by each. .of

the watt meter elements is selectively varied, and as a result, such torques may be readily adjusted to balance at a power factor value corresponding ,to any desired value of the angle 0. Selection of values of the predetermined power factor both above and below a 70.7% power factor may be conveniently accomplished.

, It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the described power factor meter arrangement produces a torque indication of the active power component flowing in the power circuit and opposes such torque indication with a torque indication of the reactive power component flowing -;in the power circuit. The invention has the particular merit that convention watt meter elements may be employed to assemble a polyphase power factor meter or relay..

It will, of course, be understood that various details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention and it is, therefore, not the pur pose to limit the patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A power factor relay for an electric power circuit comprising a first meter of the watt meter type having a pair of energizing coils and a movable output member, means for connecting said coils to the power circuit for energization respectively as a function of the current and voltage in the power circuit to produce a force on nent flowing in the power circuit, means connecting said output members in opposition, whereby said output members are stationary upon the occurrence of a predetermined power factor in the power circuit, variable ratio transformer means in circuit with one of said coils for selectively varying the energization thereof, whereby said predetermined power factor is selectable by operation of said variable transformer, and electric switch means operable by movement of said output members from said stationary position.

2. A power factor relay for a three phase, three wire power circuit comprising four meter elements of the watt meter type having co-rotatable output members, each of said meter elements including current and voltage responsive coils, means for energizing the voltage coil of said first meter ele ment by a voltage which is a function of the line voltage between first and second wires of said circuit, means for energizing the voltage coil of said second meter element by a voltage which is a function of the line voltage between the second and third wires, means for energizing the current coils of said first and second meter elements by voltages which are respectively functions of the line currents flowing in said first and third wires, whereby said first and second meter elements produce a torque on said output member which is a function of the active power component flowing in said power circuit, means for energizing the voltage coils of said third and fourth meter elements respectively by voltages shifted 9 in "phase from said voltages applied to the voltage power component in said power circuit, and a switch means operable by the common-"movement "of sa'idoutput members.

"3. A'power factor relayiorfa'threelphase, three wire power *circuit, comprising four meter e1e"- mentsofth'e watt-meter type -having c'orotatable :1"

output members, each of said meter elements including current and Voltage responsive coils, means for energizing the voltage coil 0f sa-id -n'rst meter element by a voltage which is a function of the line voltage between the firs't and second wires, means for energizing the v'oltagecoilsof 'said secondmeter elements by a v'oltage which is a function of line voltage between thesecond and third wir'es,"mea 1-is fo'r energizin the current coils of said first, and second r'nete'r I elements by voltages which are respe'etively functions of the line currents flowing in said first and third wires, whereby said met and and meter elements produce a torque on said output members which is a i function-of the active power component flowing in said power -cirouit, "means for energizing -the'voltage coils of said third and fourth meter elements res ectiva by Voltages shifted'QO" in -phase fr-om said volta'ges applied to the voltage coils 'ofsaid first 'and selzand meter elements, means for eiie'f'g -i z'ing tlie current coils of sai-d third v and fourth meter ele- 'ments 'by voltages shifted 180 in "phase f-I' o'm said voltages applied to said curr'ent' coils of said dirs't and second meter elemeirits, said last mentioned means includin variable -ratio tran's- *formers for selective1y varyin the :magnitude' of the voltages applied to said current coils of s'aid third and-fourth meter elements, thereby ip'roducing a 'torqu'e on said output members of the r :thirdand fourth-meter elements whioh is a selectiyeiy 'variable negative. function "of the reactive power components in said power circuit, and switch means operable by movement of said output members.

4. In combination in a power factor sensitive relay for -a polyph'ase "circuit, a plurality of watt- "meter elements, each including a potential coil anda curr'ent c'oil 'and'a rotatable induction'disk, a potential transformer having induced secondary voltages, equal to but 90 out of phase with corresponding primary voltages, said primary voltages being phase voltages of said circuit, first and second elements having said primary voltages'imposed upon their associated potential-coils, third and-fourthelements having said-secondary voltages imposed upon their associated potential coils, a common spindleconnecting the disks of said elements to totalize the torques inducedin s'aidflisks, bias means operative to return :said

spindle to a, zero total torque position, phaseshifting transformer means interposed in the connection of \each said current coil to said circuit, whereby the value of the power factor at which zero torque .is induced may be varied, and

;. selective switchlmeans actuated .by said spindle in response to variations in said value. p

-RONALDF DAVIS.

REFERENCES CITED 210 N 'I he following references-are of rec'ordin the fi1e of this patent:

STA'IES PATENTS Number Name .Date' 933,746 Conrad Sept. 14,l1909 l',2 i O, 71 0 Ha11 Sept. 18, 191.7 l, 69 5,890 'Fortescue Dec. 18, 1928 1', 9 '1:5',0 9 5 Jump June 20,1933 agar-6 015 owen i June-27,1933

an f1,9 2 9;2 89 Rowell -Oct. 3, 1933 2,064,018 .Leyla'n'd Dec. 15, 1936 72,300,886 G'oldsboroug'h Nov. 3, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS v 0 Number I Country Date :398;838 'Great Britain Sept. 19, 1933 

